Red Sox Journal: Fiery on the mound, Peavy sets quiet example off it

BOSTON -- The Red Sox have spent the last 48 hours, since learning of Jake Peavy's acquisition, extolling the right-hander's intensity on the mound. His competitiveness has been described by words that generally fall under the umbrella of "fierce."

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By
TIM BRITTON
Posted Aug. 1, 2013 @ 5:19 pm

BOSTON — Since learning of Jake Peavy’s acquisition, the Red Sox have spent the last 48 hours extolling the right-hander’s intensity on the mound. His competitiveness has been described by words that generally fall under the umbrella of “fierce.”

But Peavy made it clear, in both words and mannerisms, that his off-the-field temperament is a bit different. Completely at ease during his introductory news conference Thursday, Peavy spoke about the opportunities his new team presents, about his evolution as a pitcher and teammate and even about his flawed eyesight.

“I couldn’t be any more excited to be here, to call this home, to join a franchise with a lot of history and with huge expectations,” Peavy said. “I expect to go out, to be a part, to win, on my day and just to be the best teammate I can be.”

Peavy will make his Red Sox debut at Fenway Park on Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

“I will relish the opportunity every time I get to go out and pitch in front of this crowd,” Peavy said.

Perhaps even more than most pitchers his age, Peavy has had to evolve his repertoire on the hill due to injuries. He’s also improved his preparation as he’s matured, something he initially credits to playing with Greg Maddux in San Diego.

“I just wish I could go back — and I know we’ve all said this a thousand times — in my career and understand how to prepare, understand how to navigate yourself through a lineup a few times to get the most out of you,” he said. “[With Maddux], I saw what it took. I saw what true preparation meant.”

That’s what makes Peavy believe that even though at 32 his stuff “is not anywhere close to as overpowering as at one point in time,” that he’s every bit as good as he was, just “in different ways.”

That’s been a process throughout Peavy’s career. He told a story from this month, when White Sox pitcher Chris Sale argued with pitching coach Don Cooper over pitching around Miguel Cabrera. At one point in his career, that would have been Peavy, too. Now?

“I had to grab him after it was over and say, ‘Chris, they want you to be that way; they want you to have that makeup. It’s part of what makes you good,’” Peavy recalled. “But you have to understand your body, you have to understand the professionalism in the game and what truly gives your team a chance to win, and that’s not all the time what you’re thinking when you’re that age.”

Peavy is already looking forward to exchanging notes and stories with fellow veteran right-handers Ryan Dempster and John Lackey, saying they’re “kind of in the same parts of our career.” He’s happy to be reunited with pitching coach Juan Nieves, his bullpen coach in Chicago, as it eases the transition over. He knows he won’t have to explain his violent mechanics to anyone.

Peavy’s start Saturday will be his third since returning from a broken rib. He said he’s “as healthy as I can be now,” although he’s not quite as extended as normal. Peavy’s biggest disclosure Thursday, though, was about his terrible eyesight.

“I’m legally blind without my corrective lenses,” he divulged, adding that contacts and glasses can improve his vision to only about 20/40. “My eyesight is not good. I will have times where I don’t see the catcher very well.”

Wright added to pen

Fresh off their 15-inning win on Wednesday night, the Red Sox bolstered their bullpen with right-handed knuckleballer Steven Wright on Thursday.

Wright was recalled to take the place of Jose De La Torre. Wright, a starter in Triple-A, was called up in large part because of his ability to throw several innings if needed.

Wright is coming off a four-hit shutout in his last Triple-A start. He was needed to throw several innings the last time Ryan Dempster started against the Mariners, eventually pitching 52/3 scoreless frames out of the bullpen to earn his first major-league victory.

Dempster started against Seattle again Thursday night.

Boston also optioned right-hander Brandon Workman to Pawtucket to make room for Peavy. That was much more a reflection of the team’s roster needs than Workman’s performance, which has obviously been superb. With Workman having started Tuesday night, though, the Red Sox didn’t think he would be available until Saturday out of the bullpen.

He’ll be down in Pawtucket for no more than the required 10 days. (Workman could return sooner if a member of the Red Sox lands on the disabled list.)

Workman will be used out of the PawSox bullpen in the meantime in multiple-inning stints.